Preparation for the 2025 NFL season is officially underway at St. Vincent College, where the Pittsburgh Steelers have returned for training camp under the watchful eye of Mike Tomlin and his veteran coaching staff.
While all eyes are on the team’s newest acquisitions and long-standing stars, one developing player is standing out through sheer effort and determination: third-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Fresh off a 2024 season in which he recorded two interceptions and 85 tackles, Porter Jr. is already making waves at camp — and it starts with his daily matchups against newly acquired star receiver DK Metcalf.
The former Seattle Seahawk, known for his rare blend of size and speed, has become Porter Jr.’s primary assignment in drills. And the young cornerback isn’t shying away from the challenge.
“He’s a freak of nature,” Porter Jr. said with a mix of admiration and competitiveness. “There’s not a lot of guys that look like him or run like him, so it’s definitely something different every time you go against him.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to keep Joey Porter Jr. paired with DK Metcalf in training camp
There’s an undeniable energy in Porter Jr.’s voice — the kind that lets you know he’s not just showing up to camp, he’s growing. His matchup with Metcalf is a daily test that many cornerbacks would dread, but Porter Jr. sees it for what it is: a gift.
After two years of mostly lining up against George Pickens, who is also a physically and athletically gifted receiver, this is a step up in preparation and intensity.
And let’s be honest — if you’re trying to take the next leap in your career, going toe-to-toe with a receiver who looks like a linebacker and moves like a sprinter is one way to get there.
While Porter Jr. is still carving out his place in the Steelers' secondary, his grit, physicality, and willingness to learn against elite talent are the traits that will help him become a true difference-maker.
Watching him battle Metcalf each day, you get the sense this is a young man who understands what it takes — and who’s putting in the work to get there.
With the Steelers aiming high in 2025, Joey Porter Jr.’s development could be a major X-factor. Iron sharpens iron — and in Latrobe, it’s clear that facing a “freak of nature” like Metcalf is only making Porter Jr. sharper.